The nunnery scene Part 2

If Ophelia did overhear she might be part of the plan because she wants to find out what’s wrong with
Hamlet or she wants to obey her father. Ophelia shows her obedience when she says, “ I shall obey, my
lord” The women of the time were expected to be obedient and chaste. Ophelia is shown accurately.

It seems strange that Polonius disapproved of their relationship. He disapproves because Hamlet is part of
the royal family and because he thinks Hamlet is using Ophelia. In this scene the Queen offers her approval
she seems to even wish for the relationship to continue “ I do wish that your good beauties be the happy
cause of Hamlets wildness” I think she wants to know if Ophelia isn’t the reason Hamlet is mad it could be
something else. She says “I doubt it is no other but the main: his fathers death and our o’earhasty
marriage.”

Despite Shakespeare’s presentation of Polonius as someone who talks a lot he plans the meeting carefully.
He tells Ophelia to “ read on this book” he tells her to do this so it shows that she’s alone and to make her
look innocent. Polonius tells Ophelia that she must appear innocent and he says how easily we may hide
under a false coating “ tis too much proved, that with devotion’s visage, and pious action, we do sugar o’er
the devil himself.”

Polonius comments are important for two reasons, Ophelia has to look innocent because Hamlet criticises
women, he says “ I have heard of your paintings too, well enough. God hath given you one face and you
make yourself another.”

Claudius guilt is made clear to the audience by his comments “ oh tis too true. How smart a lash that speech
doth give my conscience! The harlot’s cheek, beautied with plastering art, is not more ugly to the thing that
helps it than is my deed to my most painted word. O heavy burden! “

The idea of people hiding parts of their character or acting a part is very common in the whole play. Hamlet
has “put on an antic disposition” to hide his plot for revenge. When Hamlet enters this scene the audience
see the real Hamlet. His soliloquy is self-critical and over emotional, it shows how traumatised he feels.
Hamlet debates if it is better to live or die “to be, or not to be, that is the question- whether ‘tis nobler in
the mind to suffer the slings and arrows of outrageous fortune, or to take arms against a sea of troubles and
by opposing end them.”

Hamlet says that the things that stop people wanting to die is the fear of terrors that await the dead. The
soliloquy and the previous one show the audience that Hamlets character is emotional, Hamlet speaks to
Ophelia as if she is a stranger when he meets her. “ How does your honour for this many a day?” Ophelia
attempts to return Hamlets gifts. Hamlet says, “ I never gave you aught.” Ophelia might feel upset when
Hamlet says this.

When Hamlet speaks to Ophelia, Shakespeare suggests that he knows he’s being spied on. Hamlet is
probably feeling angry and upset if he knows. Ophelia is distressed by Hamlets words; she is probably
thinking Hamlet is mad. Hamlet criticises all women. Hamlet says women make monsters of men. In the
latter part of the scene Ophelia’s words are emphasised by exclamation marks. This shows how desperate
she feels. She says that Hamlet was once the very mirror and model of behaviour and taste. Ophelia uses
metaphors to explain Hamlets change. Ophelia feels that there is nothing good left and everything’s wrong
now. Ophelia tries to ignore what Hamlet said to her because he’s gone mad. At the end of the scene
Claudius is feeling worried because he knows that Ophelia isn’t the reason Hamlet is mad “ love, his
affections do not that way tend.” Claudius plans to send Hamlet to England, Polonius agrees with him.
Claudius is right to be fearful of Hamlet because he is planning to kill Claudius.